Terminal block



Oct. 13,1931. A EVERETT 7 1,826,869

TERMINAL BLOCK Filed Dot. 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

RNEYS.

E A. EVERETT Oct. 13, 1931.

TERMINAL BLOCK 2 Sheets-Shee 2 Filed Oct. 13, 1930 INVENTOR. .ZF/

ATTOR EYS.

Patented Oct. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES EDWARD A. EVERETT, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK TERMINAL BLQCK Application filed October i3, 1930. Serial No. 488,477.

This invention relates to terminal blocks,

that is, to insulated blocks having binding posts upon which electric wires are terminated. In use, these terminal blocks are usually placed in rows on a supporting member and the objects of the present invention are to interlock each terminal with the adjacent terminal whereby they are held in alignment, they are equally spaced and the support is simplified. Other objects of the invention will appear from the following specification and the accom anying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a p an view of a pair of adjacent terminals secured according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on line 2'2 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation on line 33 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevation partly sectioned, showing the method of securing adjacent terminal blocks;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through one form of connecting member se- 35 curing a pair of adjacent terminals;

Fig. 6 shows in elevation a pair of adjacent terminal blocks having the binding posts difierently spaced and,

Fig. 7 is an end elevation corresponding to Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a lan View of a pair of adjacent terminal blocks secured by a modified interlocking arrangement;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the terminal blocks used in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an elevation partly sectioned of the terminal blocks where the interlocking member is applied;

Fig. 11 is a grooved member used to secure the terminal blocks in Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a plan View of a pair of terminal blocks corresponding to Fig. 6, but having the binding posts located in the central portion instead of in the ends, and

Fig. 13 is an end elevation corresponding to Fig. 12.

In Fig. 1, 11 indicates'the terminal block which is usually made of porcelain or other insulating material and supports the pair of 50 binding posts, 12 and 13. Each block is provided with an aperture at 14 for the fasten- .ing screw. The type of terminal block shown is provided with an overhanging panel at 15 which is provided with the grooves 16 and 17, opening upwards on one side as in Fig. 2 and with the grooves 18 and 19 opening downwards on the opposite side as in Fig. 3.

These grooves are arranged to register on the abutting surfaces of each block and are undercut as indicated at 22, Fig. 5, to receive the grommet 20 which is flanged as indicated at 21 to engage the undercut edges of the slots 16, 17 18 and 19. The grommet is preferab ly turned inwards on the flange 21 as shown so as to engage the undercut portion towards .5 the bottom of the groove.

It will be observed in Fig. 1, that when the right hand terminal block is secured in place, the grommets 20 are dropped into the grooves opening upwards on this block and the adjoining block is slid onto the grommets by the grooves pointing downwards.--

This construction holds the grommets in place so that they cannot become loose or unfastened and the two terminal blocks are securely fastened together and held in alignment, also it will be noted that thefy cannot turn when so fastenedupon the astening screws at 14. By this arrangement, any number of terminal blocks may be assembled in a row in multiple units and can be disassembled and used singly at any time desired. The grommets are a commercial article usually formed from a hollow brass stamping and readily yield to such strains as may be imposed by changes in temperature without fracturing the groove where they are secured.

A commercial type of terminal block is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 which is reversible, that is, either face of the block may be used upwards but when so reversed the posi* tion of the binding posts is changed, as for instance, in block b the binding posts are located at the outer end of the terminal block, while in block a the terminal posts are 10- cated in the central portion as indicated in Figs. 12 and 18. In this construction the connecting grooves are arranged in alignment with either side up so that the terminal blocks may be arranged in rows with either side up as desired, without requiring any change in the application of the present invention.

In Fig. 8, the terminal blocks are secured through matching dovetailed grooves by a sliding member applied from the top. The grooves are indicated at 26 and are similarly located on each side of the block and the grooved member 25 is slid into the dovetailed channel to secure the blocks together as shown.

. The member 25 may be made of metal or may be made from an insulatin material such as bakelite and the wings 0 this member are preferably resilient so as to engage the dovetailed groove with suflicient friction to hold the member in place.

The drawings illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention which is comparatively inexpensive to apply but it is apparent that other forms of locking means for securing adjacent terminal blocks may be used within the intent and scope of the present invention.

Having thus described claim: i

1. In combination, a terminal block comprising an insulated base supporting terminals having vertical slots on one side opening upwards and vertical slots on the opposite side opening downwards and aligning with corresponding slots in adjoining blocks and a1 double headed rivet engaging each of said s ots.

2. In combination, a terminal block comprising an insulated base supporting terminals having vertical slots on one side opening upwards and vertical slots on the opposite side opening downwards, a double headed rivet in each slot and the rivets in the slots opening upwards in one block being arranged to engage the slots opening downwards in the adjoining block.

3. In combination, a terminal block comprising an insulated base supporting terminals with raised panels on the sides and vertical slots formed in said panels and aligning with corresponding slots in adjoining panels the slots in one panel being arranged to open upwards and in the adjoining panel being arrangedto open downwards and means for locking said blocks in alignment through said slots.

4. A terminal block comprising an insu lated base supporting terminals with raised panels on the sides and having vertical slots formed in said panels, the slots in one side opening upwards and on the opposite side opening downwards and a double flanged rivet ei'igaging said slots whereby adjoining blockes are locked in alignment.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

EDIVARD A. EVERETT.

my invention, I 

